Grandma Browns Baked Beans
Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans recipe is a beloved local recipe that is a staple at picnics, potlucks, and family gatherings, and it never fails to please a crowd. With its savory blend of flavorful ingredients and slow-cooked perfection, it’s no wonder that this recipe has been a fan favorite for decades.
Note: Unfortunately, Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans is currently not being sold in stores. The company that made the baked beans halted production early in the coronavirus pandemic, and as of July 2023, there is no news on when production will resume. However, you can still make your own batch of delicious baked beans using our Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans copycat recipe.
If you’re missing the taste of Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans, don’t worry because we’ve got you covered! You can make your batch of delicious baked beans at home with this easy-to-follow recipe. Not only will making them yourself give you a sense of pride, but they will also taste fresher and more flavorful than anything you can buy in stores. See more popular Local Recipes.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
Ingredients for Grandma Brown’s baked beans
Grandma Browns Baked Beans Recipe
- Rinse the navy beans and remove any debris or stones.
- In a large pot, whisk in the baking soda into 6-8 cups of water and add the beans. Bring the water to a boil, then remove from heat and cover the pot.
- Let the beans sit overnight.
- The next morning, preheat your oven to 300°F.
- Drain the water from the beans, and then add brown sugar, salt, Onion, and Mix well.
- Add diced bacon to the mixture and stir to combine.
- Transfer the bean mixture to a Dutch oven or casserole dish with a lid.
- Bake at 300°F for 5 hours, stirring every hour and adding more water if necessary to prevent the beans from drying out.
- After 5 hours, check the seasoning and adjust if necessary.
- Serve and enjoy your homemade Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans!
For using Canned Beans:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- In a bowl, mix brown sugar, Onion, and Salt and one cup water or broth.
- Add the drained and rinsed navy beans into a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Pour the mixture over the beans and stir to combine.
- Top the beans with the diced bacon.
- Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
- Remove the foil and continue baking for another 15-20 minutes until the bacon is crispy and the sauce has thickened.
- Serve and enjoy your homemade Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans!
Instant Pot Version
- Rinse the navy beans and remove any debris or stones.
- In the Instant Pot, whisk together the water and baking soda. Add the beans to the pot and stir well.
- Close the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to a sealing position. Cook on high pressure for 45 minutes.
- Once the cooking time is up, allow the pressure to release naturally for 20 minutes before quickly releasing any remaining pressure.
- Add in the brown sugar, onions, Bay leaves, and bacon. Stir well to combine.
- Close the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to a sealing position. Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes.
- Once again, allow the pressure to release naturally for 20 minutes before quickly releasing any remaining pressure.
- Open the Instant Pot lid and give the beans a final stir.
- Serve and enjoy your Instant Pot Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans!
Tips & Tricks
- Soak the beans overnight: To ensure that the beans cook evenly and achieve the perfect texture, it’s recommended that you soak them overnight in water before cooking them.
- Use high-quality ingredients: The quality of the ingredients you use will greatly impact the taste of your baked beans.
- Adjust seasonings to taste: This recipe is a great starting point, but feel free to adjust the seasonings to your liking.
- Cook low and slow: The key to achieving perfectly cooked and tender beans is to cook them low and slow. Whether you’re baking them in the oven or using an Instant Pot, be patient and resist the urge to turn up the heat.
- Add bacon for extra flavor: Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans traditionally include diced bacon which adds a savory flavor to the dish. Don’t skimp on the bacon!
- Keep an eye on the liquid levels: As the beans cook, they will absorb the liquid in the dish. Be sure to check on the liquid levels periodically and add more water or broth if necessary to prevent the beans from drying out.
- Let the beans rest before serving: For best results, let the baked beans sit for 10-15 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together and the sauce to thicken slightly.
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FAQs about Grandma Browns baked beans
Grandma Browns Baked Beans
Yield:
1
Prep Time:
10 minutes
Cook Time:
5 hours
Total Time:
10 minutes
Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans recipe is a beloved local recipe that is a staple at picnics, potlucks, and family gatherings, and it never fails to please a crowd. With its savory blend of flavorful ingredients and slow-cooked perfection, it’s no wonder that this recipe has been a fan favorite for decades.
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Dry Navy Beans
- 1 1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
- 1 Tsp Salt
- 1 Cup Brown Sugar
- 6 Cups Water
- 1 Medium Onion Diced
- 2 Bay leafs
- 4 Slices Thick Cut Bacon Cooked
Instructions
- Rinse the navy beans and remove any debris or stones.
- In a large pot, whisk in the baking soda into 6-8 cups of water and add the beans. Bring the water to a boil, then remove from heat and cover the pot.
- Let the beans sit overnight.
- The next morning, preheat your oven to 300°F.
- Drain the water from the beans, and then add brown sugar, salt, Onion, and Mix well.
- Add diced bacon to the mixture and stir to combine.
- Transfer the bean mixture to a Dutch oven or casserole dish with a lid.
- Bake at 300°F for 5 hours, stirring every hour and adding more water if necessary to prevent the beans from drying out.
- After 5 hours, check the seasoning and adjust if necessary.
- Serve and enjoy your homemade Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans!
For using Canned Beans:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- In a bowl, mix brown sugar, Onion, and Salt and one cup water or broth.
- Add the drained and rinsed navy beans into a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Pour the mixture over the beans and stir to combine.
- Top the beans with the diced bacon.
- Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
- Remove the foil and continue baking for another 15-20 minutes until the bacon is crispy and the sauce has thickened.
- Serve and enjoy your homemade Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans!
Instant Pot Version
- Rinse the navy beans and remove any debris or stones.
- In the Instant Pot, whisk together the water and baking soda. Add the beans to the pot and stir well.
- Close the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to a sealing position. Cook on high pressure for 45 minutes.
- Once the cooking time is up, allow the pressure to release naturally for 20 minutes before quickly releasing any remaining pressure.
- Add in the brown sugar, onions, Bay leaves, and bacon. Stir well to combine.
- Close the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to a sealing position. Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes.
- Once again, allow the pressure to release naturally for 20 minutes before quickly releasing any remaining pressure.
- Open the Instant Pot lid and give the beans a final stir.
- Serve and enjoy your Instant Pot Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 249Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 516mgCarbohydrates: 47gFiber: 7gSugar: 20gProtein: 12g
Do the sit in the fridge or on the stove top?
I did the instapot recipe and they came out way too soupy! Help!
I’m not sure what happened when I tried it turned our perfect. If you can put it on saute until more water cooks out or put it on the stovetop.
How many cans equals a pound of beans? Should the bacon be cooked before adding to the beans?
I would do 3 cans and yes the bacon is cooked first i hope this helps